TWO of the biggest names in cycling will be racing for glory on the streets of Barnsley next month.

Double Olympic champion from Paris, Remco Evenepoel, and two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe will head up an extremely strong looking Soudal-Quick-Step team.

It’s a huge coup for the race to boast riders of such high profile with Belgian rider Evenepoel also the reigning world champion and third-placed in this year’s Tour de France.

He was one of the stars of the recent Paris games after winning both the Time Trial and Road Race.

Cavalier rider Alaphilippe has endeared himself to fans down the years with his all-or-nothing riding and the Frenchman won the Tour of Britain in 2018.

Paul Heggie, a member of local cycling club Birdwell Wheelers, said: “It will be amazing to have big names like those two in Barnsley.

“One of the great things about cycling is that it’s free to watch.

“It is a great use of money to bring the race to Barnsley.”

Another rider with an Olympic medal will be taking part in Ethan Vernon.

The Englishman, who rides for Israel-Premier Tech, won silver in the Team Pursuit in the track cycling.

Norwegian Jonas Abrahamsen wore the polka dot jersey at the recent Tour de France and he will be racing for his team Uno-X Mobility.

Elite British team Ineos Grenadiers are yet to announce their line-up.

The stage through South Yorkshire starts in Sheffield on September 5 and will finish in Barnsley town centre.

It will skirt Barnsley as it goes through Wath and Swinton early on before heading into Royston and Darton later.

Then, from Penistone, it will see a series of short climbs tackled before Hound Hill in Worsbrough is ascended by the riders.

It’s predicted that climb will prove to be a crucial part of the race.

The race will finish on County Way after a drag up Old Mill Lane.